“SLIM” TRICKS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5141, 20 June 1927, Page 4

“SLIM” TRICKS.

TRADESPEOPLE TAKEN DOWN.

Several tradespeople in Sydenham, Christchurch, are bewailing the that they have recently parted with various sums in hEj-rd cash in return for valueless cheques. One instance which occurred, in the case of a grocer, was an exceptionally clever form of trap. Two men entered the shop. One, who appeared to be a labouring type, went to one end of the counter and made a small cash purchase. The other was a welldressed stranger ; he made some purchases at the- far end of the counter, and tendered in payment a cheque for £5 on which was the signature “Owen Moore.” The assistant, who was not entitled to take cheques in such circumstances, referred the cheque to the proprietor, mentioning the name of the alleged drawer. The labouring man then entered into the affairs. “lOwen Moore did you say ?” he remarked. “ I wish I had his money ; I used to work for him.” This statement removed any doubts, and the cheque was cashed, substantial change being given ; but as events have shown the name of the alleged drawer of the cheque is not known at the bank. In another instance the mqn approached and chatted for half an hour with a storekeeper. He- said he was short of cash, but had a cheque for £5 from his employer, “Owen Moore.” He asked if the storekeeper •could advance £2 to enable him to go to the city; as security he would leave the cheque and call back for the balance of the change. He suggested that if the storekeeper doubted his cheque he could ring up the man whose signature purported to be thereon. The storekeeper did not attempt to do this. There is no “Owen Moore” on the telephone list as it turns out, but he left to see if he could verify the cheque elsewhere. The stranger waited for him, and while he was thus engaged he chatted with a policeman on the footpath. When the storekeeper returned he paid the stranger £2, although he had been unable to verify the cheque. He is still waiting for the stranger to return, and he has the cheque on which the bank has inscribed “No account.” Neither he nor the police has been able to discover any “Owen Moore.”